Fun with Gewurz at Damiani Wine Cellars

By Jeff Ellis

On Sunday afternoon, a friend and I attended the “Exploring Wine Series: Gewurztraminer” at Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake in Hector, NY. The event was promoted by Damiani as an opportunity to “Sample 6 wines from New York State and around the world and increase your understanding of the expressions and styles of Gewurztraminer in a side-by-side tasting of this intriguing aromatic white wine.” When I discovered that the seating was limited to 14 people, I decided this would be a great chance to learn about Gewurztraminer in a small classroom setting. It was much more than that. We were treated like family, made new friends with fellow wine enthusiasts, and learned about our own tasting preferences and skills.

Upon entering, we were graciously greeted by Amy Cheatle, Tasting Room Manager, and shown to our seats at a large table covered with wine glasses and an assortment of bread, cheeses, peppered salami, and pate. Glenn Allen, a partner in Damiani Wine Cellars, instructed us on how to conduct our blind tasting of six glasses of wine and encouraged us to take notes. We were also given a short glossary of terms to help us describe the wines. We tasted wine from: Alsace, France; Washington, USA; Robertson, South Africa; Pfalz, Germany; and Finger Lakes, USA. The variety in styles of Gewurztraminer wine is as different as the locations the wine comes from.

Gewurztraminer is often thought of as only a dessert wine. I was surprised to discover that drier Gewurztraminer wines can actually pair well with a wide variety of food. We tasted wines that pair well with not just desserts and cheeses, but rich poultry dishes and moderately spiced Asian-style foods, as well. I was quite surprised to taste drier Gewurztraminer wines that can even pair well with smoked and spicy red meats. Most of the other event participants were as surprised to discover this as I was.

Participants ranged from wine enthusiasts, to a chemical engineer who hosts a wine and beer blog, to a wine server from another Finger Lakes winery, to a Finger Lakes winemaker from the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Four participants traveled from Elmira, three traveled from Ithaca, and the others traveled from within 30 minutes of Damiani Wine Cellars.

Talking about our tasting discoveries with fellow wine lovers from various backgrounds and locations was a great experience. Our host, Glenn Allen, did a great job of leading the group in discussions of what we were experiencing in each wine. Most of the two hours at Damiani was spent doing just that. Glenn also discussed the nuances of microclimates and winemaking methods. This was a unique experience for most and a very interesting experience for all. Jim Touschner, a guest from Elmira, stated, “I lived here my whole life and this is the first time I had a chance to taste wine like this.”

In the second part of the tasting we tried to match each wine with its corresponding wine label and tasting notes. This really put our skills to the test, and helped me to understand more about my personal preferences and what I taste in a wine.

Glenn also treated us to a taste of an excellent Gewurztraminer from Chile and, to the surprise of us all, a barrel tasting of the Damiani Wine Cellars 2009 Gewurztraminer.

We asked Glenn what inspired him to host this unique event. He replied, “The best way to taste differences is to have them lined up in front of you. I used to do this with friends and family and decided to do it for everyone. It is a fun way for people to drink wine and learn.” I could not agree more.

The next event in the Damiani Wine Cellars‘ Exploring Wine Series will be held on Sunday, March 28, 2010 and will be featuring Chardonnay wine. Future events in this series will be held on the last Sunday of each month through June 2010. Contact Damiani Wine Cellars at info@damianiwinecellars.com or 607-546-5557. http://damianiwinecellars.com

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